Fastener driving machine



F. POLZER FASTENER DRIVING MACHINE March 23, 1943.

3' sheets-fsheet 1 Qriginal Filed Dec. 20, 1940 R m m m .March 23, 1943.PQLZER FASTENER DRIVJING MACHINE Original Filed D60. 20, 1940 3 -Sh'eetsSheet 2 I HM 9v R an m \v mm M, 7

mm 7 m INVENTOR MW ATTORNEYS March 23, 1943. F. POLZER FASTENER DRIVINGMACHINE Original Filed Dec. 2 o, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 1 Il'4 v v '4ITIIIIIIIIIIIIA m- ATTORNEYS,

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 FASTENER DRIVING MACHINE Fridolin Polzer,Norwalk, Conn., assignor to The E. H. Hotchkiss Company, Norwalk, Conn.,a corporation of Connecticut Original application December 20, 1940,Serial No. 371,011. Divided and this application May 28, 1941, SerialNo. 395,602

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a fastener driving machine of the type inwhich a spring is used for driving the plunger to set the fastener, andhas for an object to provide a construction in which if it is desired tochange the driving power, as for example to increase the driving power,the spring may be easily and quickly changed with a simple operation toeither provide a heavier or lighter spring as desired.

It is another object to provide a construction in which substantiallyall of the parts may be stamped and formed from sheet metal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device in which thesame mechanism may be used to drive various types of fasteners such forexample as two-pronged staples, tacks, nails and the like, it beingnecessary for the different types of fasteners to merely change theshape and size of the fastener guiding and feeding means and the drivingplunger to suit the type and size of fastener used.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No.371,011 filed December 20, 1940, for Fastener driving machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised aconstruction as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification. It is however to be understood that I am notconfined to the specific construction and arrangement shown but mayemploy various changes and modifications within the scope of theinvention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved fastener driving machine withparts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with parts broken away to moreclearly show the construction;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the device;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section substantially. on line l4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the parts in theirnormal positions;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation showing the securing means for the yokereleased to permit exchange of the driving spring;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are detailed sections substantially on lines ll, 8-8and 99 respectively of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation looking toward the inner side of one of theside plates of the body housing;

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are detail sections substantially on lines H--lI, 12-42, |3-l3 and |4l 4 respectively of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the support for staple fasteners andcarrying them to driving position;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 17 is a front end view of the fastener support of Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a transverse section substantially on line l8-I8 of Fig. 16;

Figs. 19 and 20 are a front and side elevation respectively of the frontportion of -a.strip of staple fasteners which may be used in thismachine;

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of a horizontal dividing and spacing wallbetween the side plates of the housing'and forming a cover over thestaple guiding support; and e V Fig. 22 is a side elevation of one endportion thereof. a

The device is illustrated as adapted for driving substantially U-shapedor tWo-pronged staples or staple fasteners, but as above indicatedthesamemechanism may be employed for driving other types of fasteners,such for example as other.

types of staples, tacks and nails,.it being'necessary merely to changethe shape 'orform andsize of the fastener support and guiding means andthe driver for the fastener to correspond with the type and size offastener used- Also the device is shown for driving the staple fastenerdirectly into the article to be fastened without clinching and istherefore what is .known as a.

tacker, but it may be used with a base carrying an anvil in alignmentwith thestaple driver for bending over and clinching the staple prongsasin'the type of machine known as a stapler, such base and anvil not beingshown however in the drawings as they may be of a conventionaltype.

The device comprises a body including two spaced side plates I and 2forming awmain or.

outer housing. These plates are preferably stamped and formed from sheetmetal of proper gauge and are made substantially the same exform thelower part of the grip on the machine.'

. The front part of the plate is offset as indicated at 4 to provideone-half of a guide for a vertically movable plunger carrying the stapledriver 6. The other plate I is similarly offset in the oppositedirection as indicated at to complete the other half of the verticalguide for the plunger. The rear edges of each of these offsets may havean ear 8, the two being side by side and may be secured together by anysuitable means such as a screw or rivet 8a or by welding.

The plunger 5 which is guided for vertical movement in the guidewayformed by the offsets 4 and I has a substantially rectangular headportion 9 and a stem ||l providing a shoulder 9a;

The head portion is recessed on its lower front face as indicated at Hto receive the upper end of the driver 6, and in the wall of this recessis another recess l2 to receive a lug |3 cut and bent backwardly fromthe driver to connect the driver to the plunger so that the driver willbe carried upwardly with upward movement of the plunger. The shoulder Mat the top of the recess I I engages the upper end of thedriver so as toforce the driver downwardly to drive the fastener as the plunger isdriven downwardly under action of a spring I5 as will later bedescribed. This spring embraces the stem l0 and rests at its lower endon the shoulder 9a. At its upper end it engages the under side of thetop wall l6 of a yoke This yoke may also be stamped and formed fromsheet metal and has side arms l8 extending downwardly from the top wall|6 on opposite sides of the plunger guide portions 4 and of the body. Onthe outer walls of each of these guide portions 4 and I there is adownwardly extending hook or lug |9 out from the walls of the guide andforced outwardly therefrom so as to pass through opening 20 formed inthe corresponding arm l8 of the yoke, and by engaging over the loweredge of this opening as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 retaining the yoke inposition on the body. The yoke may be easily removed by forcing itdownwardly against the action of the spring I5, which can be done bypressure of the hand on top of the yoke, until the walls of the arms I8under the hooks l9 are released therefrom permitting the arms to springoutwardly as indicated in Fig. 6. This releases the arms, and the yokemay then be readily lifted from the body.

At the lower end of each of the arms i8 is an I inwardly extending lug2| each passing through an opening 22 in the outer side wall of theoffset guide portions 4 and I. These extend into the guideway for theplunger over the top of a resilient cushioning bumper 23 under theplunger to arrest downward movement of the plunger and cushion the blow.This bumper may be of various constructions but that shown comprises acentral rubber plug 24 embraced by a heavy spring 25. This bumper issupported on a transverse wall 26 mounted in the lower part of theguideway. In the present construction this wall is a block having lugs21 extending into and seated in openings 28 formed in the walls 4 and 7whereby the block 26 is supported. It has a notch or recess 26a (Fig.'7) in its front edge for passage of the driver 6. The lugs 2| byextending inwardly over the bumper prevent the bumper from movingupwardly in the plunger guideway so that it is retained in properposition on the wall'26. The head 9 of the plunger is provided withgrooves 29 to form clearance for the lugs 2| and permit the plunger tomove downwardly by these lugs. The top wall l6 of the yoke extendsdownwardly on the front and rear sides of the plunger guideway as shownat 30 to help retain the yoke in position.

Between the side plates and 2 and at the lower portions thereof is astaple support and guide 3|. This may be a solid bar but is preferablyformed of sheet metal and substantially U-shaped in cross section asshown in Figs. 4, 8 and 18. The staples 32, preferably in a connectedstrip 33, are supported on this support and guided thereby to the stapledriving position, the staple strip being inserted on the support throughthe right hand or rear end of the housing as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5.This support is the general shape of the inner part of the staple and asthe staple 32 shown is tapered, that is the prongs are inclined inwardlyso that the free ends of the prongs are closer together at the bottom ofthe staple than at the connected por- 'tion at the top as shown in Fig.19, the side walls of the support 3| are also inclined to correspond.This retains the staples on the support and prevents their falling orrising off the top thereof. This support and guide will of course be ofa size and shape to correspond with the staple or other fastener forwhich the machine is designed to be operated.

These staples are fed along this support by means of a follower 34 ofsubstantially inverted U-shape to slide along the top of the support 3|with its side wall embracing this support as shown in Fig. 8. At itsforward end the follower may have a downwardly extending lip 34a'between the sides of support 3| to engage the top of front wall 50 tostop forward movement of the follower to prevent its moving into thepath of the plunger and permit sufficient power to be left in feedingspring 31 to force the last staples into the raceway. This follower isprovided with a loop 35 embracing and slidable on a rod 36 locatedbetween the sides of the support 3| and on which is a coil spring 31tending to shift the follower 34 forwardly along the support 3| to feedthe fasteners forwardly to the driving position. The end of the rod maybe flattened at 36a, to make it wider to prevent the loop 35 sliding offthe end of the rod. At the rear end the rod 36 is bent upwardly andforwardly as shown at 38 to provide a hook 39 adapted to hook into anopening 40 at the rear end of the member 4| forming a top wall or coverover the support 3| and extending transversely between the plates and 2.It forms a spacing element between the plates and helps to keep them inproper relation. At its edges this member 4| has lugs 42 extending intoopenings 43 in the plates and 2 to position the plates and 2 and member4| in proper relation to each other and also support the member 4|.This, member 4| also has downwardly extending flanges 4|a. on theopposite side edges to rest on the lower edges 44 of the openings 3 inthe plates and 2 and to extend downwardly on the outer sides of theseplates as shown in Fig. 1 to hold the plates against separation and alsoto form a finish at the lower sides of the openings. By lifting the hook39 from the opening 40 the follower 34 may be withdrawn from the rearend of the support 3| to permit insertion of a strip of staples ontothis support. Then the follower may be replaced and the hook 39 insertedin the opening 40.

The staple support and guide 3| is mounted on the lower member 45 whichis substantially channel or U-shape, and the member 3| is secured at itslower wall on the bottom wall of this member by any suitable means suchas rivets 46, spot welding, or the like. The outer side flanges 4!embrace the lower edges of the side plates I and 2 and the bottom wall45 has elongated openings 48 therein to receive lugs or projections 49projecting downwardly from the lower edges of the plates I and 2 Fig. toproperly position the member and support 3I with relation to the sideplates I and 2 and the other elements of the device. These lugs 49 orthe plates I and 2 near them are secured to the side flanges 4! of thebottom member 45 by suitable means such as rivets or welding 49a.

At the forward end of the support 3I there is mounted an L-shaped memberhaving an upright wall 50 between the sides of the member 3| and formingthe rear wall of a guideway or raceway 5| for passage of the staplesunder the action of the driver 5. This member 50 is mounted by means ofits lower wall 52 seating on the bottom wall 3la of the member 3I andsecured thereto by any suitable means such as rivets 53 or by welding.The wall 50 may be supported against backward movement by means of lugs55a lanced from the side walls of support SI and bent inwardly to engagethe rear side of wall 50 and support it as shown in Figs. 5, l5 and 16.The front wall of the raceway 5| is formed by a removable plate 54. Thisplate has its opposite vertical side edges bent backwardly and inwardlyto form flanges 55 (Fig. 9) embracing outwardly extending flanges 56 onthe forward edges of the side plates I and 2 and below the offsetplunger guide portions 4. Spacing plates 51 may be secured to member 54and placed between the plate 54 and the flanges 56 at opposite sides ofthe driver 6 to give a proper spacing of the front wall of the member 54from the guide wall 50 to form the raceway 5I for passage of the staplesand the driver 6. The member 54 is placed in position by merely slidingit upwardly on the flanges 56 from the lower ends thereof, and it isheld in position by any suitable means such as a spring plate or finger58 secured to the front wall of the offsets 4 by any suitable means suchas rivets 55 and overlapping the member 54. A lug 60 cut and bentbackwardly from the spring plate 58 may seat in a recess in the frontwall of the member 54 to form a catch to retain the member 54 inposition. By merely lifting the lower end of spring 58 out wardly, thiscatch may be released and the member 54 slid downwardly out of positionto give access to the front end of the staple support and the lowerportion of the driver 6, and also to permit removal of any staple whichmay become jammed in the raceway. The forward end of the bottom wall 45may b beveled as shown at 45a (Figs. l5, l6 and 17) to preventbackwardly inclined staple prongs from jamming on this wall and forguiding such prongs into the raceway 5!.

The means for lifting the plunger against the action of the spring I5 tocompress this spring and also to raise the driver 6 to permit a fastenerto be fed into the raceway under this driver in position to be driventhereby is mounted and assembled as a separate unit, which is shown inas sembled relation in the machine in Fig. 5 and being withdrawn fromthe outer housing in dotted lines Fig. 1. This unit. assembly comprisesan inner housing 5| of general U-shape having side walls 62 and a bottomwall 53 connecting the lower edges to the side walls. This may also beformed of sheet metal of suitable gauge or thickness and bent to shape.Pivoted between the sides of this housing adjacent the upper edgesthereof and on the pivot pin 64 is an operating handle 65. This handleis also formed from sheet metal and is of generally channel or invertedU-shape in cross section, and the side walls at the forwardend thereofare extended downwardly from the pivot 54 to form a lever arm 66. At thelower end of this arm and mounted between the side walls thereof is aroller 61 mounted on a suitable cross pin 63. The two sides of the leverarm 66 extend on the opposite sides of and embrace a cam lever 69pivoted between the sides 62 of the housing on the pivot I6 rearwardlyof the pivot 64, and the lower edge II of this cam lever is shaped toform a suitable cam surface contacting and cooperating with the roller67.

Embracing the forward end of thi cam lever 69 is a pawl I2. This pa-wlis of general channel shape in cross section with its side walls I3embracing the front end of the lever 69 and pivoted thereto adjacent itslower end by means of the pivot pin I4. This pawl I2 is located betweenthe side walls 62 of the inner housing. The top end of its front wall I5may engage under a downwardly facing shoulder I6 formed on the rear wallof the plunger 9 to lift the plunger when the pawl is lifted, as willpresently be described. A spring I! mounted in a recess in the forwardend of the cam lever 69 and embracing a stud I8 on the pawl tends toshift the upper end of the pawl outwardly or forwardly about the pivotI4. The upper edges of the side walls I3 are inclined to form a cam I8to engage a cross pin I9 mounted in and extending between the side walls52 of the inner housing to shift the upper end of the pawl I2 backwardlywhen it approaches the end of its upward movement and thus to withdrawthe upper end of the wall 15 from under the shoulder 15 on the plungerto release the plunger to permit it and the driver 6 to be forceddownwardly by the spring I5 to drive and set the staple or otherfastener. To prevent the pawl I2 being forced too far forward so thatthe upper end of its front wall I5 might be caught on the lower end ofthe plunger 9, as for instance should the plunger not be driven to itslowermost position, or, that is, it does not go all the way down, as

a where a staple is not fully driven, a stop pin is provided projectingbeyond the sides I3 of the pawl into slots BI in the side walls 62 ofthe inner housing, and by engaging the front or forward edges of theseslots limit the forward movement of the pawl.

A spring 83 is coiled about the pivot 64 and has one end 84 pressing onthe under side of the lever 65 and its other end 85 resting in a groove86 on top of the cam lever 69. This spring therefore tends to raise thehand lever 65 upwardly about the pivot 64 and to swing the cam lever 69downwardly about its pivot i0.

When the lever 65 is depressed theroller 6! is forced to the left asviewed in Fig. 5 and runs along the cam surface II. This raises the freeend of the cam lever 69 about its pivot I0 and thus raises the pawl 12.As the upper edge of this pawl is engaged under the shoulder I6 on theplunger 9 it raises this plunger and with it the driver 8 and compressesthe spring I5.

To give a more comfortable grip, a resilient or soft rubber pad Bl maybe mounted on the top of the lever 65. and secured thereto by anysuitable means such as rivets B8. Another soft rubber pad 89 may bemounted between the side plates I and 2 of the body at the upper part ofthe openings 3 and secured in position by any suitable means such aspins or rivets 96.

The removable unit assembly including the inner housing 61 may bemounted in the outer housing between the body plates I and 2 as shown inFigs. 5 and 8 and secured therein by any suitable means such as thescrews or rivets 9| eX- tending transversely through the side members ofthe two housings. By removing these securing means 9| this operatingassembly may be removed as a unit from the body or outer housing asshown in dotted lines Fig. 1.

In operation the operator grips the device by passing his fingersthrough the openings 3 under and engaging the grip pad 89 and with thepalm of the hand resting on top of the operating lever 65. Then aftersetting the lower edge of the device on the article to be fastened thelever 65 may be depressed. This operation through the action of theroller 6'! on the cam H raises the forward end of the cam lever 59 aboutthe pivot 10. This raises the pawl 72 and as the forward upper edge ofthis pawl engages the shoulder 16 on the plunger 9, it also lifts thisplunger against the action of the spring l5, thus compressing the springand storing energy in it. Upward movement' of the plunger also carrieswith it the driver 6, and as the lower end of this driver passes abovethe top of the staple support 3| and the strip of staples thereon, thisstrip is fed forwardly by the follower 34 to carry the forward staple32a into the driving position in the raceway 5i and under the lower endof the driver 5. As the lever 65 is further depressed the pin 13 actingon the cam 18 on the pawl 12 moves the upper end of this pawl to theright or rearwardly withdrawing the upper edge of this pawl from theshoulder 16 on the plunger. This releases the plunger whereupon thespring l5 forces it downwardly with a quick action carrying with it thedriver 6. This driver forces downwardly the forward staple 32a. anddrives it into the work to be fastened. The downward movement of theplunger is arrested by its lower end striking the top of the bumper 23as shown in Fig 5. This being a resilient bumper also cushions the forceof the blow preventing objectionable blows or hammer action on the otherelements of the mechanism. After the fastener is driven release ofpressure on the handle 65 permits it to be raised under the action ofthe spring 83 returningthe parts to the position of Fig. 5. This permitsthe cam lever 69 and the pawl 12 carried thereby to be moved downwardlyby their own weight and action of the spring arm 85 and cause theforward upper edge of the pawl to pass below and engage under theshoulder 16 on the plunger in position for again lifting the plunger ondepression of the operating lever 65 for setting another fastener.

It will thus be seen that the device can be made principally of partsstamped and formed from sheet metal, decreasing the weight of the deviceand increasing its strength for the amount of metal used. Also that itwill not be as fatiguing to Operate as older types of fastener drivingmachines where the pressure required to operate the operating leverincreases with movement of this lever, but that in this device thepressure required to operate the lever does not increase and may evendecrease toward the end of its movement. If more driving power isdesired all that is necessary is to remove the yoke 11, remove the oldspring and insert a new and stronger spring, or any other spring of thedesired power.

Having thus'set forth the nature of my invention what I claim is:

1. A fastener driving machine comprising a housing having side platesforming an upright guideway, a driver mounted to reciprocate in theguideway, a fastener support at the lower part of the housing with itsforward end at the rear of the driver, upright outwardly extendingflanges on the side plates at the forward edges thereof, a plate havingguides to receive said flanges and slidable onto the same from the lowerends thereof, said latter plate being spaced forwardly from the end ofthe fastener support to form a raceway for passage of fasteners underaction of the driver, means for detachably securing said latter plate inposition, means for operating the driver to set a fastener, and meansfor feeding fasteners along the support to the raceway.

2. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates forming a guideway, a driver and its support mounted toreciprocate in said guideway, a channel shaped member embracing thelower edges of the plates and having side flanges secured to saidplates, the bottom wall of the channel member having openings thereinadjacent the side flanges, said side plates having lugs on their loweredges seated in said openings, a fastener support mounted on saidchannel member between the side plates and extending to a positionadjacent said driver, means for operating the driver to drive afastener, and means for feeding fasteners along said support to thedriving position.

3. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates forming a guideway, a driver and its support mounted toreciprocate in said guideway, a channel shaped member embracing thelower edges of said plates and having its side flanges at the outersides of the plates, said channel member having openings in its bottomwall and said side plates having extensions on their lower edgesextending into said openings to relatively position the plates andmember, means for securing the side flanges to said plates,a fastenersupport mounted on said channel member between the side plates andextending at its forward end to a position adjacent the driver, meansfor operating the driver to set a fastener, and means for feedingfasteners along said support to the driving position.

4. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates forming a guideway and having openings therein, a driver and itssupport mounted to reciprocate in said guideway, a fastener supportmounted between said plates adjacent the lower edges thereof andextending to a position adjacent the driver, a spacing member extendingacross the space between the plates above the fastener support to retainthe plates in spaced relation and having lugs on its side edges seatedin the openings in the plates to relatively position the plates andmember, means retaining the plate against the member to retain the lugsin said openings, means for operating the driver to drive a fastener,and means for feeding fasteners along said support to the drivingposition.

5. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates forming a guideway, a driver and its support mounted toreciprocate in said guideway, said side plates having aligned openingstherethrough spaced above their lower edges, a fastener support mountedbetween the plates adjacent their lower edges and extending to aposition adjacent the driver, a spacing member extending transverselyacross the space between the plates above said fastener support toretain the plates in spaced relation and having side flanges extendingthrough said openings to the outer sides of the plates and embracing thelower edges of the openings, means for operating the driver to set afastener, and means for feeding fasteners along their support to drivingposition.

6. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates forming a guideway, a driver and its support mounted toreciprocate in said guideway, a channel shaped member embracing thelower edges of the plates and having side flanges secured to saidplates, a, fastener support mounted on said channel member between theside plates and extending to a position adjacent the driver, said sideplates having aligned openings therethrough above said fastener support,a spacing member extending between the side plates and having lugs onits side edges seated in similarly shaped openings in the side plates,said spacing member also having side flanges extending through the firstopenings and embracing the lower edges thereof, means for operating thedriver to set a fastener, and means for feeding fasteners along theirsupport to driving position.

'7. A fastener driving machine comprising a housing having an uprightguideway, a driver mounted to reciprocate in the guideway, a fastenersupport at the lower part of the housing with its forward end at therear of the driver, upright outwardly extending flanges on the sides ofthe housing at the forward end of the support, a plate having guides toreceive said flanges and slidable onto the same, said latter plate beingspaced forwardly from the end of the fastener support to form a racewayfor passage of fasteners under action of the driver, means for operatingthe driver to set a fastener, and means for feeding fasteners along thesupport to the raceway.

8. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates, a driver and its support mounted to reciprocate in said body, achannel shaped member embracing the lower edges of said plates andhaving its side flanges at the sides of the plates, said channel memberhaving openings and said side plates having extensions on their loweredges extending into said openings to relativel position the plates andmember, means for securing the member to said plates, a fastener supportmounted on said channel member between the side plates and extending atits forward end to a position adjacent the driver, means for operatingthe driver to set a fastener, and means for feeding fasteners along saidsupport to the driving position.

9. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates having openings therein, a driver and its support mounted toreciprocate in said body, a fastener support mounted between said platesadjacent the lower edges thereof and extending to a position adjacentthe driver, a spacing member extending across the space between theplates above the fastener support to retain the plates in spacedrelation and having lugs on its side edges seated in the openings in theplates to relatively position the plates and member, means preventinglateral separation of the plates and member to retain the lugs in theopenings, means for operating the driver to drive a fastener, and meansfor feeding fasteners along said support to driving position.

10. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates, 2. driver and its support mounted to reciprocate in said body,said side plates having aligned openings therethrough spaced above theirlower edges and forming hand grip portions at the tops of said openings,a fastener support mounted between the plates adjacent their lower edgesand extending to a position adjacent the driver, a spacing memberextending between the plates above said fastener support and having sideflanges extending through said openings and embracing the lower edgesthereof, means for operating the driver to set a fastener, and means forfeeding fasteners along their support to driving position.

11. A fastener driving machine comprising a body including spaced sideplates, a driver and its support mounted to reciprocate in said body, achannel shaped member embracing the lower edges of the plates and havingits side flanges at the sides of the plates, a fastener support mountedon said channel member between the side plates and extending to aposition adjacent the driver, said plates having aligned openingstherethrough above said fastener support and forming a hand grip at theupper edges of said openings, a spacing member extending between theside plates and having lugs on its side edges seated in similarly shapedopenings in the side plates, said spacing member also having sideflanges extending through the first openings and embracing the loweredges thereof, means for operating the driver to set a fastener, andmeans for feeding fasteners along their support to driving position.

FRIDOLIN POLZER.

